Machine for drilling finger holes in bowling balls



Aug. 9, 1960 R. H. MCCORMICK MACHINE FOR DRILLING FINGER HOLES IN BOWLING BALLS Filed June 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RAYNA H. M CORMICK ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1960 R'. H. MCCORMICK 2,948,168

MACHINE FOR DRILLING FINGER HOLES IN BOWLING BALLS Filed June 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i F/GZ INVENTOR. RAYNA H. M CORMICK ATTORNEY 1950 R. H. MCCORMICK 2,948,168

MACHINE FOR DRILLING FINGER HOLES IN BOWLING BALLS Filed June 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 2O RAYNA H. M CORMICK ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1960 R. H. M CORMICK 2,948,163

MACHINE FOR DRILLING FINGER HOLES IN BOWLING BALLS Filed June 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

IN VEN TOR. RAYNA H. M CORMICK ATTORNEY 2,948,168 Patented 'Aug. 9, 1960 MACHINE FOR DRILLING FINGER HOLES 1N BOWLING BALLS Rayna H. McCormick, 125 78. Canton Road, Akron, Ohio Filed June 24,1958, sr. No. 744,130

19 Claims. I (Cl. 70-31 This invention relates to a machine for drilling holes infsphericalobjects, and in particular relates ,to a machinefor drilling finger holes in bowling balls.

- f Ten-pin bowling balls, of known type, are usually provided-with three fingers holes, and sometimes two, depending on particular individuals or different locations where the game is played. These holes may extend in closely spaced relation radially of the center of theball, but generally they are angled with respect to a radial axis through the center of the ball and the hole center atthe surface of the ball, in various directions, to provide undercuts to suit the requirements of particular individuals with respect to the size of the hand and the shape and sizes of the fingers which engage in the holes.

Heretofore such finger holes have been drilled by mounting the ball on a holding device and marking the hole centers on the surface of the ball, in predeterminately 'spaced relation to each other, on the basis of an arbitrary measuring point providedon the surface of the ball by the manufacturer. After the hole centers were marked the holes were drilled by use of a separate drill press. Greatskill was required, not only to drill the holes in the marked positions, but to drill them in proper angular relation to provide undercuts specified to suit the many manufacturers measuring point on the surface of the ball in proper location for preadjusting the machine, and

improved means for drilling all of the finger holes while the ball is in a single fixed position.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

1y adjustable means for accurately drilling the fingergrip holes, in accurately spaced relation, and with properly located undercut portions, to suit the specifications for a particular person. I

Another object of the invention is to provideapparatus of the character described in the preceding parafraph, including improved means for quickly setting the position of a reciprocating rotary cutter with respect to an arbitrary measuring point on the surface of the ball, whereby the rotary cutter is reciprocably operable to drill a hole in the exact location required, and with a specified angle to provide requisite finger gripping undercuts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for drilling holes in spherical objects, wherein is eliminated the necessity for marking the hole centers on the surface of the same. i

Another object of the invention chine of the character described including means for presetting reciprocal movement of the rotary cutter, for

' automatically providing a hole of predetermined depth.

.for drilling the holes therein, without damaging the ball.

Still another object of the inventionis vto-provide is to provide a maa machine of the character described having improved means for fixedly positioning the ball therein, with the' Of the accompanying drawings:

' Figure 1 is a combined front and end perspective view of a machine for drilling bowling balls, in accordance with the invention. a

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section, taken in a vertical plane substantially in the direction of the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and illustrating ten-pin bowling ball fixedly clamped in position for a complete drilling operation. I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-section, on reduced scale, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and illustrating springpressed means for yieldingly maintaining certain parts of the machine in a neutral or zero position of adjustment.

Figure .4 is an end view of the machine as viewed from the left of Figure 2, parts of the machine being shown in full line and dotted lines to show different adjustments for drilling operations.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and illustrating means for adjusting portions of the machine in lateral directions.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, portions being illustrated in full and chain-dotted lines to illustrate adjustment of parts of the machine for drilling holes in different locations and at varying angular directions.

v Referringto the drawings generally, and to Figures 1,

'2, and 4 in particular, the numeral 10 designates a ten-- pin bowling ball of known type usually made of molded plastic material such as hard rubber, or synthetic resin fplasticyfixedly clamped on a support 11 by means of a releasable ball mounting device indicated generally at 12. The support -11 may include a horizontal platform or table 13, supported on legs 14, 14, and having laterally spaced, parallel uprights or walls 15, 15 integrally secured on the upper face thereof.

" The ball mounting means 12 may include a vertically movable disc 16 having an upwardly presented concave seat 17, for complemental reception of the lower portion :of the ball 10, and oppositely inturned flanges 18, 18 at the'upper ends of the wall 15 providing laterally spaced arcuate seats 19, 19 for complemental seating engagement with the upper portion of the ball as best shown in Figure 2. For urging the plate 16 toward clamping engagement of the ball with the seats 19, the same may be afiixed to the upper end of the vertical screw 20, threaded 15 to locate an arbitrary measuring point P, provided on ,the surface of the ball by the ball manufacturer, to be at {the uppermost portion of the ball through which a vertical axis of the machine passes. A rotary cutter or drill unit 25, including a reciprocable chuck or'holder 26 for a twist drill 27, may be mounted above the" upper surface portion. of the ball which is substantially freely exposed between the fixed ball seats 19, to be universally adjustable to reciprocate the drill to predetermined extent into the ball at various selected points on said exposed portion thereof, and at prea'dadjustment there is provided as follows: a first member 28 pivotally adjustable on the fixed uprights 15, to swing in a series of lateral planes about a first lateral axis L-1 (see Figure 2), substantially through the center C ,of the ball to either side of a zero condition of the machine shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 6;v a first element 29 pivotally adjustable on the member 28, to swing thereon in a series of lateral planes about a second lateral axis L2, parallel to axis L-l and substantially tangent to the outer periphery of the ball, which would be at point P in the zero condition of the machine, said axes L1 and L-Z being included in an angularly variable lateral plane; a second member 30 mounted on said first element to be pivotally adjustable thereon to swing in a series of transverse pianes about a first transverse axis T1 (see Figure 6), passing through the center of the ball and substantially at right angles to the first lateral axis L-1 to either side of a vertical or zero transverse plane, as shown in full and chain-dotted lines in Figure 6; and a second element 31 pivotally adjustable on said second member 30 to be swingable in a series of transverse planes about a second transverse axis T.2, parallel to said first transverse axis T1, and substantially tangent to the periphery of the ball, Which would be at point P in said zero condition of the machine, said transverse axes T-l and T-2 being in one said transverse plane in each angularly adjustable position of the drill. The arrangement is such that the member 28 and the element 29 may be swung on the axes L-i and L-2, respectively, to swing the drill 27 generally in a selected vertical plane through the center C of the ball to points transversely forwardly or rearwardly of the point P (see Figure 2), and the second member 30 and second element 31 are similarly pivotable about the axes T-1 and T-2, respectively, thereof to swing the drill 27 in selected laterally extending planes, to either side of zero point P, as viewed in Figure 2, thereby to align the axis of the drill with a hole center H-l, as best shown in chain-dotted lines at the left of the ball center in Figures 2 and 6, wherein the drill axis passes through the center H-l in a plane which is at an undercutting angle to a plane passing through said center H-1 and the axis T-l. through the center C of the ball. Thus, reciprocation of rotating drill 27 to desired extent Will drill a suitably undercut hole H of desired depth and angularity. A similar hole H may be drilled as indicated at the right of the ball center in Figure 6, but to have a different size and drilling angle according to specific requirements. In other words, holes may be drilled at substantially any point in the upper portion of the ball and in any direction with respect to an axis through a hole center H-1 and the center C of the ball but in each instance the drill axis will pass exactly through the given hole center H-1.

The first member 28 may be in the form of a U-shaped bracket, including a transversely arcuate centrally open top wall 34 and dovmturned, laterally spaced walls 35, 35, which embrace the fixed uprights 15, 15, pivot pins 36, 36 being received outwardly through the uprights 15 to extend in axial alignment through said walls. Outward extensions of the pins 36 are threaded to receive locking nuts 37, which may be tightened against the walls to clamp the same firmly against the uprights 15 and there by lock the member 28 in a given position of angular adjustment about the axis L-l.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outer face of each upright 15 may be provided with an arcuately grooved portion 38, having terminal ends 39, 39 from which separate compression springs 40, 40 extend upwardly toward engagement with a protuberance 41 which extends from the respective wall 35 of bracket28 into the upper portion of the groove. The springs 38 tend to urge the first member. 28 toward the zero upright position thereof best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, when the locking nuts 37' are loosened on the pins 36.

For angularly adjusting the member 28 about the axis L-1, the lower end of one side wall 35, at the right of Figure 1, may have affixed thereto a semi-circular toothed rack 42 for engagement with a worm gear 43, journalled in a suitable bracket 44 attached to the upper face of fixed platform 13. Worm gear 43 may be turned by means of a hand-wheel 45 on the outer end of a shaft extension 46 on the worm. The amount of pivotal adjustment of the member 28 about the axis L-1 may be accuratelypreset, by means of a pointer 47 aflixed on the left hand upright 15, as viewed in Figure 2, to indicate measurements on a scale 48 at the lower edge of the corresponding wall 35 (see Figure 4). Such measurements may be in inches and fractions thereof, marked on both sides of a zero mark indicated by the pointer 47 when the bracket or member 28 is in zero vertical position, as translated to the surface of ball 10.

The first element 29 similarly may be a U-shaped bracket having a transversely arcuate, centrally open, top wall 49 and laterally spaced downturned walls 50, 50, which embrace upper portions of the walls 35 of bracket 28. Headed pivot pins 52, 52, similar to pivot pins 36, 36, extend outwardly in axial alignment through the walls 35 of bracket 28, and the respective walls 50 of bracket 29. Threaded outer extensions of these pins 52 have nuts 37 thereon which are operable against the walls 50, thereby to clamp or lock the bracket 29 on bracket 28 in any given position of angular adjustment about the lateral pivotal axis L-2.

For said angular adjustment of bracket 29 on bracket 28, the right hand wall 35 thereof, as viewed in Figure 2, may have an arcuate toothed rack 53 at the lower edge thereof, in meshing engagement with a worm gear 54 on a bracket 55 afiixed to the corresponding wall 35 of U-shaped bracket 28. By turning a hand wheel 56 on a shaft extension 57 of worm 54, the U-shaped bracket 29 may be pivoted through the aforementioned series of lateral planes about axis L-2, to either side of a zero point indicated on a scale 58 on the left-hand wall 50 by a pointer 59, affixed on the corresponding wall 35 of bracket 28 (see Figure 4). Here the measurements may be in terms of degrees and fractions thereof.

The laterally pivotally adjustable member 30 may include transversely spaced'arcuate blocks 61, 61, integrally connected to each other by a rigid cross-member 62 (see Figure 2}. These blocks are provided with oppositely inwardly presented arcuate grooves 63, 63, slidably receiving outwardly presented arcuate flanges 64, 64 aflixed on the U-shaped element 29. As previously described, the element 30 is arcuately adjustable on radius about an axis passing through the center C of the ball 10 in clamped position thereof, as best shown in Figure 2. Angular adjustment of element Stlabout such axis may be accomplished by turning a hand wheel 65 on the forward block 61 to rotate a stem 66, journalled in the forward block 61, and having keyed thereon a pinion 67 in a recess 68 in the block (see Figure 5). Pinion 67 is in meshing engagement with an arcuate toothed rack 69, affixed in a groove 7' on the arcuate upper face of flange 64 of the element 29, whereby rotation of the pinion will cause the same to travel along the rack and swing the element 30 on a radius from said ball center C, and in a given lateral plane through the axis of drill 27, according to the adjusted position of the member 29 on axis 1P2.

Member 30 maybe locked in angularly adjusted position on member 29 by turning a set screw 72, suitably threaded in a rear block 61, toward clamping engagement with the upper surface of flange 64 of said element 29. Angular adjustment of the element 34} may be indicated in inches or. fractions of an inch, as translated to the periphery of ball 10, from the zero condition shown in full lines in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, in either direction laterally as shown in Figure 2, as by means of a pointer 73 on the forward block 61, and a scale 74 on the forward face of element 29 (see Figure 1').

- on the fixed uprights 15.

The laterally pivotable second element 31 may comprise a cylindrical housing 75, upstanding from integral arcuate flange portions 76, 76 thereof, arcuately slidably received in oppositely inturned arcuate grooves 77, 77 in the blocks 61 of element 30. The element or housing 75 is adjustably shiftable in the arcuate groove 77 to move the drill laterally in a series of lateral planes which pass through the lateral axis L2, which is tangent to the surface of the ball, according to the angular adjustment of element 29 on member 28.

The element 31, including housing 75, is angularly adjustable, as described, in the grooves 77, by turning an adjusting wheel 78, thereby to turn a pinion 79, rotatably mounted in a recessed portion of the forward member block 61. Pinion 79 meshes with a curved rack 80, secured in a recessed portion 81 of the forward flange 76 of element 31. Thus, rotation of the pinion 79 will swing the element 31 on the axis tangent to the surface of the ball 10. ,The element 31 may be locked in any such position of angular adjustment with reference to member 30, by means of a set screw 83, threaded in'block 61, for clamping engagement with a corresponding flange portion 76.

Angular adjustments corresponding to' degrees and fractions thereof may be indicated by a pointer '84 affixed on housing 75 to indicate such adjustments on a scale 85 on the upper face of the forward block 61 (see Figure be of a type including a casing 86 vertically adjustable within the housing 75, by means of a hand wheel 87 and rack and pinion means 88 of known type, and by which vertical adjustment of the casing is indicated on a scale 89 on housing 75, and a pointer 90 carried by the casing 86. Rotary cutter unit 25 may includetherein known automatic means for reciprocating the drill chuck 26 with drill 27 thereon for a predetermined stroke, automatically withoperation of an electric motor 91 afiixed on the upper end of housing 75 to rotate the chuck 26 through the unit 25. That is, when motor 91 is operated to rotate the chuck 26 it will be reciprocated toward and from ball in any of the various angularly adjusted positions of the drill, to drill the hole H of predetermined depth, as adjusted by means of the handle 87 and as indicated on the scale 89.

Manual movement of the ball toward and from seating position on the recessed seat 16 is facilitated by provision of a grooved track or guide 12a mounted on platform 13, at the front of the machine. The top of guide 1211 is adapted to be substantially flush with the top of plate 16 when the latter is in retracted position against the platform.

In operation or use of the improved machine described above, as for drilling eachone of the usual peripherally spaced finger holes H in a standard ten-pin bowling ball 10, the ball is fixedly positioned as shown in Figures 1 to 6 as previously described, to be clamped between the clamping disc Y16 and laterally spaced arcuate seats 19 The ball is so adjusted to have the manufacturers measuring mark P on the uppermost portion of the ball in alignment with the central axis of the machine, which will be the same as the axis of the drill, in the zero position of the machine indicated on measuring scales 48, 58, 7'4 and 85 (see Figures 1 and 4).

It is to be assumed that the machine operator has been i left of the vertical centerline of ball 10, as viewed in Figure 2, by measuring distances along arcs Px and xH-l in machine, however, no markings other than the measuring 7 point P are necessary. The operator simply loosens the nuts 37 on the pins 36 and turns hand wheel 45, thereby through the worm 43 and rack 42 to swing the member 28 forwardly about the lateral axis L-1 until pointer 47 indicates 1 /2 from the right of the zero point (see Figure 4), at which point the nuts 37 are tightened on the pins, 36 to ainx the member 28 on the supporting uprights 15. All other pivotal parts at this time being in aforesaid zero positions on the respective indexing scales, the axis of drill 27 will now be in a position somewhat as indicated in dotted lines at the left of Figure 6, except that the axis of the drill would extend through the hole center Hpl and the ball center C. Next, the operator, after releasing locking screw 72 on member 30, turns the adjusting wheel 65 to swing member 30 about the variable transverse axis T-l extending through the center C of the ball, to a particular angle of the member at which the pointer 73 indicates a measurement of 1" to the left of the zero point, as viewed from the front of the machine (see Figure 1), after which the set screw 72 is again tightened to lock the member 30 in the resultant angularly adjusted position thereof with respect to member 29. In the condition accomplished by the two angular adjustments just described, the axis of the drill will pass through the center H-1 of hole H being drilled and the center C of the ball. The operator now may adjust the drill to an undercutting angle in any direction laterally, as shown in Figures 2 and 6, by loosening the set screw 83 and turning the knob 78 thereby to rotate pinion 67 on a rack 69, and thereby swing the member 30 laterally to the left as viewed in Figure 5, for example, to an undercutting angle of the drill with respect to the line H C (see Figure 6), and as indicated in degrees by the pointer 84 on the scale 85 (see Figure 1). This angular adjustment may be fixed by tightening the locking screw 83. Similarly, the drill may be angularly adjusted either forwardly or rearwardly of the ball, by loosening the nuts 37 on the pins 52, to permit turning the knob 56 and to swing the element 29 in desired direction on the axis L*2 to an angular degree indicated by the pointer 59 on the scale 58 (see Figure 4). When the latter adjustment has been accomplished the nuts 37 are again tightened on the pins. 52.

When all four of the above angular adjustments have been accomplished the drill 27 will have its axis extending substantially as indicated in dotted lines at the left of Figures 2 and 6. Accordingly, the operator may now operate the motor 91 through the rotary cutter device 25 to reciprocate'the drill through one axial stroke, during which the drill will enter the ball at hole center H and accurately drill the hole H to requisite depth. The hole H to the right of the centerline of the ball, as well as the hole H rearwardly of the point P may similarly be drilled to have any desired size, depth, location and undercut angle, all without use of marks on the ball. When all holes have been completely drilled the ball 10 is easily removed by turning the wheel 23 to lower the clamping plate 16 to a point where the ball may be rolled outwardly on the grooved guide plate 12a.

Thus has been provided a unitary device which is easily adjusted and operated to drill holes accurately as required in each instance, without necessarily requiring a particularly high degree of mechanical skill.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p

.1. A machine as for drilling a hole in a bowling ball or the like, comprising a relatively fixed support, mounting means on said support for releasably mounting the ball in relatively fixed position, a rotary cutter, means for mounting said rotary cutter on said support tobe movable toward and from cutting engagement with the ball, said mounting means including a relatively fixed part having downwardly presented ball seat means and a vertically relatively movable part having an upwardly presented ball seat means, and means for urging said movable part from a retracted ball-receiving position upwardly to a position in which the ball is clamped between said means of the fixed and movable parts.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, including guide means for rolling the ball onto said upwardly presented seat means in the retracted position of said relatively movable part.

3. A machine as for drilling a hole in a bowling ball or the like, comprising a relatively fixed support, ball mounting means on said support for releasably mounting the ball in relatively fixed position thereon, a rotary cutter, universally adjustable means on said support for mounting said rotary cutter thereon to be adjustable to various angularly adjusted positions of the rotary cutter with respect to the ball in said fixed position of the same, and means for reciprocating said rotary cutter toward and from the fined ball in said various angularly adjusted positions thereof.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3, means being provided on said support for indicating where an arbitrary point furnished on the ball is intersected by the axis of the rotary cutter in a zero position of the mounting means therefor-in which said cutter axis passes through said arbitrary point and the center of the ball.

5. A machine as for drilling a hole in a bowling ball or the like, comprising a relatively fixed support, ball mounting means on said support for releasably mounting the ball in relatively fixed position thereon, a rotary cutter, universally adjustable means on said support for mounting said rotary cutter thereon to be adjustable to various angularly adjusted positons of the rotary cutter with respect to the ball in said fixed position of the same, means for releasably locking said universally adjustable means in variously adjusted positions on said support, and means for reciprocating said rotary cutter toward and from the fixed ball in said various angularly adjusted positions thereof.

6. A machine as for drilling a hole in a bowling ball or the like, comprising a relatively fixed support, mounting means on said support for releasably mounting the ball in relatively fixed position thereon to have a given hole center on the surface of the ball freely exposed, a member adjustable on said support to swing in an are about the center of the ball, an element carried by said member and adjustable thereon to be swingable about an are about a point on the periphery of the ball, locking means for afiixing said member and said element in various said selected positions of said adjustment with respect to each other, to said support, and to said given hole center on the surface of the ball, cutter means mounted on said element including an axially reciprocable rotary cutting tool, whereby upon reciprocation of said rotary cutting tool a hole will be made inwardly of the surface of the ball in predetermined direction with respect to a radial line through said hole center and the center of the ball.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein resilient means is provided for yieldingly tending to urge said member toward a given position of adjustment with respect to said support when said member is free to swing with respect to the same.

8. A machine as for drilling a hole in a bowling ball or like spherical object, comprising a support, mounting means on said support for releasably mounting the ball in relatively fixed position to have a given hole center on the surface of the ball freely exposed, a first member pivotably adjustable on said support to swing about a first lateral axis substantially through the center of the ball, a first element pivotally adjustable on said member to swing about a second lateral axis parallel to saidfirst lateral axis, said second lateral axis being substantially tangent to the outer periphery of the ball and being in a lateral plane including said first lateral axis, a second member mounted on said first element to be pivotally adjustable thereon to swing about a first transverse axis through the center of the ball substantially at right angles to said first lateral axis, a second element pivotally adjustable on said second member to be swingable about a second transverse axis parallel to said first transverse axis, said second transverse axis being substantially tangent to the periphery of the ball and being in a transverse plane including said first transverse axis, locking means for affixing said members and said elements in various said selected positions of said pivotal adjustment with respect to each other, to said support, and to said given hole center on the surface of the ball, cutter means mounted on said second element including an axially reciprocable rotary cutting tool, the axis of said cutting tool being at the intersection of planes passing through said second lateral axis and said second transverse axis, respectively in selected positions of pivotal adjustment, whereby upon reciprocation of said rotary cutting tool a hole will be made inwardly of the surface of the ball in predetermined direction with respect to a radial line through said hole center and the center of the ball.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said locking means includes separate releasable devices for locking said members and elements against pivotal adjustment about the respective said lateral and transverse axes.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 8, means being provided on said support for indicating where an arbitrary point furnished on the ball is intersected by the axis of the rotary cutter in a zero position of the mounting means therefor in which said cutter axis passes through said arbitrary point and the center of the ball, wherein said locking means includes separate releasable devices for locking said members and elements against pivotal adjustment about the respective said lateral and transverse axes.

1 1. A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said ball mounting means includes relatively fixed and movable clamping parts, and means for clamping said parts together against opposite portions of the ball.

12. A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said ball mounting means includes a relatively fixed part having downwardly presented ball seat means, and a relatively movable part having upwardly presented ball seat means, means for urging said movable part from a retracted position toward a clamping position in which said ball seat means are clamped against opposite portions of the ball.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said ball mounting means includes a relatively fixed part having downwardly presented ball seat means, and a relatively movable part having upwardly presented ball seat means, means for urging said movable part from a retracted position toward a clamping position in which said ball seat means are clamped against opposite portions of the ball, guide means for rolling the ball onto said upwardly presented seat means in the retracted position of said relatively movable part.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein said locking means includes separate releasable devices for locking said members and elements against pivotal adjustment about the respective said lateral and transverse axes, and guide means is provided for guiding the ball toward and from said ball mounting means in the released condition thereof.

15. A machine as for drilling a hole in a bowling ball or the like, comprising a support, ball mounting means on said support for releasably mounting the ball in relatively fixed position to have a given hole center on the surface of the ball freely exposed, a first member pivot ably adjustable on said support to swing about a first lateral axis substantially through the center of the ball, a first element pivotally adjustable on said member to swing about a second lateral axis spaced from said first lateral axis, said second lateral axis being substantially tangent to the outer periphery of the ball, a second member mounted on said first element to bev pivotally adjustable thereon to swing about a first transverse axis through the center of the ball at an angle to said first lateral axis, a second element pivotally adjustable on said second member to be swingable about a second transverse axis spaced from said first transverse axis, said second transverse axis being substantially tangent to the periphery of the ball, locking means for afiixing said members and said elements in various said selected positions of said pivotal adjustment with respect to each other, to said support, and to said given hole center on the surface of the ball, cutter means mounted on said second element including an axially reciprocable rotary cutting tool, the axis of said cutting tool being at the intersection of planes passing through said second lateral axis and said second transverse axis, respectively, in selected positions of said pivotal adjustment, whereby upon reciprocation of said rotary cutting tool a hole will be made inwardly of the surface of the ball in predetermined direction with respect to a radial line through said hole center and the center of the ball.

16. A machine as for drilling a hole in a bowling ball or the like, comprising a relatively fixed support, mounting means on said support for releasably mounting the ball in relatively fixed position to have a given hole center on the surface of the ball freely exposed, cutter means including a cutting tool reciprocable along an axis, means for adjustably mounting said cutter means on said support to be movable to various fixed angular positions in which said cutting tool axis passes through said given hole center, said adjustable mounting means being operable to selected fixed angular positions of said cutter means with respect to said given hole center on the surface of the ball, whereby upon reciprocation of said rotary cutting tool a hole will be made inwardly of the surface of the ball in predetermined angular direction of said cutting tool axis with respect to a radial line through said hole center and the center of the ball.

17. A machine as set forth in claim 16, said adjustable mounting means including visible indicator means for presetting the angle of said cutting tool axis with respect to said radial line.

18. A machine as set forth in claim 17, means being provided on said cutter means for automatically limiting reciprocation of said cutting tool to provide a said hole of predetermined depth in the ball.

19.A machine for drilling holes in bowling balls or like spherical objects, comprising a housing, means for releasably supporting a said object in relatively fixed position in said housing to have a given spherical portion of the object freely outwardly exposed, a hole boring device including a boring tool shiftable longitudinally of an axis thereof, means for universably adjustably mounting said device on said housing to center said boring tool to have said axis passing through a hole center on said exposed portion and to have said axis at selected angles with respect to a radial centerline through said hole center and the center of the object.

References Cited 'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Grove June 30, 1953 

